From Wednesday September 16th till Monday September 21st,
the Aviation Photocrew organized the sixth Air-to-Air Academy during the
38th International Sanicole Airshow and the Spottersday at Kleine-Brogel.
Staging out of Zwartberg Municipal Airport just south of Kleine-Brogel
Air Base, a total of 12 photo-flights were made, in close cooperation
with the Belgian Air Force and the airshow organizers.

On Wednesday we kicked-off with a dedicated photo-flight with two special
colored F-16s of Kleine-Brogel. Such was the support of the Belgian Air
Force that we made a dedicated report showcasing all Belgian Vipers on
this website, which can be found here.

As is our mission, we accommodated as many photographers
from all over the world to enjoy air-to-air photography, some 30 in total.
This year, we had quite a number of new photographers, from the USA, Poland,
Israel, Switzerland and our neighboring countries. Of course, they are now
spoiled for life, because immediately they were given the opportunity to
shoot fast jets, helicopters and warbirds, shooting from the ramp of the
Skyvan and from the side-windows. Besides the new photographers, we had
many familiar faces returning to enjoy our unique photo-ops, from countries
like the Cayman Islands, South Korea, Hong Kong, Israel, the UK, Romania,
Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, France and of course
Belgium.

This year, apart from the numerous Belgian Vipers
with special markings shooting flares over the Pampa-range, we had further
subject aircraft from the Belgian Defense Forces such as Air Force and Navy
NH90s and the venerable Sea King, which is in the twilight of its long and
distinguished career. Our neighbors from the Dutch and French Air Forces
also joined up repeatedly. French Rafale demo-pilot Tao showed-of his third
special painted Rafale, as close as ever, both solo as well as with the
spare dual aircraft. Maneuverability of the Rafale and its slow-speed handling
are impressive, as are the skills of Tao and his colleagues.

Dutch Apache demo-pilots Wally and Kaas were happy
to shoot some 50+ flares over the Pampa-range in their last year as demo-pilots,
which was quite spectacular, seen both from the ramp of the Skyvan as well
as from the side-windows.

The Polish Air Force Su22 Fitter tac-demo team
did their best to pose for us, although the minimum speed of their jets
is slightly higher than the maximum speed of our Skyvan. Still, we all got
some unique shots of these impressive cold-war fighters, even through the
windshield of the Skyvan when they passed underneath us!

Another familiar sight behind the Skyvan are the
Swiss demo-team’s Hornets. Like the F-16 and Rafale, the F-18 can
easily keep-up with our photo-ship. Actually, they requested us to fly slower
than our maximum speed, so they could generate better vortices! Upon arrival,
they got really close with their landing-gear down and air-refueling probe
extended, a movie-clip of which they posted on their website. Great to see
it’s not only fun for us, but for them as well!

The Norwegian Air Force participated with a DA20, which was
a type of aircraft we hadn’t shot before. It posed for us on Sunday-morning
and with its dark camouflage, it contrasted nicely with the clouds. Although
conditions were trying throughout the whole week, every now and then they
really made the subject-aircraft pop out of the pictures.

A new Air Force for us were the Portuguese. On
Saturday, during the Spottersday at Kleine Brogel, they posed their Vipers
behind and next to the Skyvan and the conditions again were spectacular.
They had a modest special tail in operation colors on the tail of the lead-aircraft
and skimming the clouds, the light was just stunning!

Several warbirds tested the prop-blurring skills
of the photographers as well. The Dutch Spitfire with well-known demo-pilot
Sheik came really close-up, as we were already used from him when he posed
for us in his F-16A(M) in years before. A new aircraft-type was the Cessna
O-2A FAC-aircraft from the Vietnam era, operated by Stichting Postbellum
from the Netherlands, with its unique push-pull engine-arrangement. Very
impressive was the Dutch Catalina, which was shot partly over the river
Maas, a very appropriate backdrop for this flying boat.

The Breitling Super Constellation also visited
Belgium, and during arrival we guided the Connie with a T-28 Trojan. Last
but not least, the OV-10B Bronco also posed behind the Skyvan for some
lucky photographers who joined both planes to their homebase in Kortrijk.

All in all, like previous years, our cooperation
with the Belgian Air Force and Sanicole Airshow organizers paid off. Twelve
action-packed flights were the result and even though the weather conditions
were not always favorable, all photographers were happy and left with lots
of pictures and footage to edit and publish. Some of their best photo result
can be found below.